Device and method for treating fingernails



Dec 17, 1940. F. NEUSCHAEFER DEVICE AND METHOD FOR TREATING FINGERNAILSFiled e t. 27, 1940 IN VENT OR. EPA NZ l/sus c'HA EFEE.

ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 17, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DEVICE ANDMETHOD FOR TREATING FINGERNAILS 7 Claims.

This invention relates to devices and methods for treating fingernailsand more especially to devices particularly adapted to remove the finelongitudinal ridge-like formations often occurring on the surfaces offingernails, or to otherwise prepare the nails with a smooth velvetysemi-polished surface to which colored finger nail polish compositionswill tenaciously and uniformly adhere.

10 My invention in its preferred form involves provision and use of anarrow annular band of highly flexible fibrous material such as paper,the inside surface of which is coated with finely divided abrasivematerial. This annular band is preferably made of a diameter wherebywith the device encircling the end of a users finger, successiveabrasive areas may be pressed against the nail surface and easilyreciprocated transversely of the nail, that is, circumferentially of thedevice, by pressure applied through contact of the thum or fingers ofthe users other hand with the outer surface of the band. Preferably theouter surface of the band is also formed or provided with surface meansfor. frictionally engaging the thumb or fingers of the users other hand.While the use of abrasive implements for abrading fingernails are ofcourse well known, that is, for trimming the nail edges, such deviceswhen properly made for such purpose are too rigid to conform to thecurved surface areas of fingernails and the abrasive is too coarse, andtherefore if such devices were used for the purpose of attempting toscour away the longitudinal ridges on the nail surfaces or to make suchsurfaces smooth, there would be merely a line contact between the deviceand the nail surface, with the result that the more or less cylindricalsurface of the nail may be made even more irregular, rather than beingmade more smooth and uniformly curved. On the other hand, ordinarypieces or strips of abrasive paper are not adapted for treating the nailsurfaces, as it would be necessary for the user in applying the paper tothe finger of one hand, to try to grasp the flexible paper at twoseparate points with his other hand in an effort to hold the abrasivepaper in proper contact under pressure, with the curved surface of thenail. Such manipulations are too difficult for practical use, and also,due to slippage of the paper, irregularly directed abraded lines wouldbe formed on the nail surfaces. Attempts heretofore to use abrasives onthe nail surfaces have in general also been such as to be unpleasant tothe user. So far as I am aware,

no simple or practical device capable of manipulation by the user on hisown nails, has heretofore been devised for the above indicated purposesof this invention.

Various further and more specific objects, features and advantages ofthe invention will clearly "5 appear from the detailed description givenbelow, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a partof this specification and illustrating by way of example variouspreferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating one example of the deviceaccording to my invention as well as showing the manner in which thesame may be applied and manipulated by the user; 10

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a preferred form of the invention;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view partly in section, but an alternativeform of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a developed view of the device of Fig.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of another embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 6 illustrates the manner in which the de-. vice of the inventionmay be folded or collapsed for ready carrying and for packaging forsale.

As shown in Fig. 2, the device may comprise a narrow annular band In ofhighly flexible fibrous material such as thin paper coated on its inner30 surface as at I l with finely divided abrasive material. The abrasivematerial may comprise for example silicon carbide ground to a finenessgenerally known in the trade as size 400. In some cases it may bepreferred to use somewhat finer. 35 material, for example, of a finenessknown as 500, and in other cases somewhat coarser materials such as size320 or size 400 mixed with some grains of size 320 may be used. Ifcolored nail polish compositions are not to be applied to 40 the nails,the finer sizes may be preferred for obtaining a more highly polishedsurface on the nails, whereas if nail polish compositions are to besubsequently used, the nails may be given a more velvety surface towhich the composition 45 will more firmly adhere, by using the coarserabrasives above mentioned. Abrasive materials other than siliconcarbide, such as examples, socalled fiint or garnet, may also be used.The

abrasive particles may be secured to the inside 50 of the band bywell-known abrasive adhesives, preferably of the so-called waterproofvarieties, although not necessarily so. The paper stock to which theabrasive is applied may for example comprise a relatively tough but thinand flexible 55 kraft paper, such for example as generally'knowncommercially as A weight.

As further shown in Fig. 2, this paper band may have secured to itsouter surface as by adhesive, a layer of thin suede paper 2 forproviding good frictional engagement with the users thumb or fingers.

The device of Fig. 2 is preferably applied and manipulated in a mannersuch as shown in Fig. 1. That is, an inside abrasive surface area isapplied to the surface of a fingernail as at l3 which is to be madesmooth or polished. The under side of the finger carrying this nail maybe supported as by a finger i l of the other hand. Thereupon the thumbi5 of the other hand may be applied to the outside surface of the bandit at a point above the nail l3. Then it will be found that the user mayconveniently reciprocate his thumb in the directions indicated by thearrows, with the result that an abrasive area of the band isreciprocated transversely of the nail l3, that is, circumferentially ofthe band. As shown, the band is preferably made relatively narrow with awidth considerably less than the length of the fingernail so that theband may conveniently be brought successively into contact under firmpressure with all parts of the nail. Also as shown, the band ispreferably made of a diameter such that it will easily encircle the twosuperimposed fingers and in somewhat spaced relation thereto, except forthe area of abrasive contact.

This annular arrangement of the abrasive material provides an endlessband which, since it encircles the two superposed fingers, cannot easilyget out of proper alignment along the line of convenient reciprocationof the thumb, and since portions of the abrasive at each side of thenail l3 are connected together, by encircling the 40, fingers, the bandis easily kept in ageneral plane perpendicular to the fingers. Also dueto the annular form of the abrasive band, it will be found that thevarious inside areas of the band may all be conveniently brought intoengagement with 45. the nail successively and uniformly under firmpressure into contact with all the cylindrical areas of the nail surfaceduring the reciprocating action of the thumb, even without removing thefingers from the positions shown in Fig. 1.

50 In view of these facts and the character of the abrasives abovespecified, the abrasive action, although rapid and effective, is veryuniform and does not cause any noticeable abraded lines on the nail norany discomfort to the user. The device may also be quickly shifted fromone nail to the next.

.In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 3, the paper band [0'bearing the abrasive coating Il may be formed with numerous closelyspaced fine perforations. These perforations will provide spaces orshallow pockets against the suede backing I2 for receiving abraded dustfrom the nail so that same will not accumulate so quickly between theabrasive grains and destroy their effectiveness. Also these perforationswill serve to offer numerous small abrasive edges for more effective andrapid abrasive action on the nail.

As further shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the annular bands for this form ofthe invention may be so shaped thatthey will substantially conform tothe-peripheral surface of a segment of a cone. This will permit thedevice to conform more readily to the tapered end portions of the thumbor fingers of the user without necessitating enlargement of the diameterof the device to a point where it would be more difficult to easilyretain the same in alignment during use.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 5, both the inner surface Itand the outer surface I! of the paper band l8 may have abrasive materialapplied thereto. In this case the abrasive on the inner surfacefunctions in the manner above described in connection with Fig. 2,whereas the abrasive on the outer surface will provide the means forfirm frictional engagement with the thumb or fingers of the users otherhand. With this form of construction, if desired, the band may be madeof such a diameter that it may readily be turned inside out forinterchangeable uses of the inner and outer abrasive areas respectively-For instance, when the inner abrasive surface becomes too worn forfurther use, the device may be turned inside out, whereupon the formerinner surface may still provide for effective frictional engagement andthe former outer surface may be used to abrade the nail surfaces. Alsoif desired with the construction of Fig. 5, the inner and outer surfacesmay be coated with abrasive grains of somewhat different sizes, wherebythe coarser surface may be used for first quickly eliminating anyoutstanding ridges on the nail surfaces and then the device may beturned inside out so that the finer abrasive may be used to provide amore finished surface on the nail. As indicated in Fig. 5, the devicemay be composed of two abrasive bands secured by adhesive, back-to-back,with the ends overlapping as at is, to give a smooth joint free of anybulging or excessive stiffness.

The device is adapted to be collapsed or folded in the manner indicatedin Fig. 6 for ready carrying or for retail sales packaging.

With all of the above forms of the invention, the nail surfaces may bequickly given a smooth somewhat velvety finish, pleasant to the touchand free of the usual vertical ridges. The usual colored nail polishcompositions will adhere more effectively and uniformly to the surfacesthus treated.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect toparticular preferred examples, it will be understood by those skilled inthe art after understanding theinvention that various changes andmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention, and it is intended therefore in the appended claims tocover all such changes and modifications.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patentis? 1. A device for removing longitudinal ridges from the surfaces offingernails and for giving said surfaces a smooth finish, comprising anarrow continuous annular band of flexible fibrous sheet materialhavingits inside surface coated with finely divided abrasive material securedby an adhesive, and its. outer surface formed with means forfrictionally engaging the user's thumb, said device being adapted forencircling the end of a users finger, and to have its successive insideabrasive areas pressed against the nail surface and reciprocatedtransversely of the nail and circumferentially of the device, by contactwith the thumb of the users other hand.

2. A device for removing longitudinal ridges from the surfaces offingernails, comprising a continuous narrow Zannular band of flexiblefibrous sheet material having fixed on its inside surface a coating offinely divided abrasive material and its outside surface formed withmeans for frictionaI engagement with a users finger or thumb, saiddevice being adapted for encircling the end of a users finger, whilesuccessive inside abrasive areas thereof are pressed against the nailsurface and reciprocated transversely of the nail and circumferentiallyof the device.

3. A device constructed and adapted for removing longitudinal ridgesfrom the surfaces of fingernails, comprising a continuous annular bandof flexible fibrous sheet material, the inside surfaces thereof havingfixed thereon finely divided abrasive material, said annular band beingof a diameter such that the same may encircle the end of the usersfinger with an inside abrasive area in contact with the surface of thefingernail and with the remaining inside surfaces somewhat spaced fromthe finger whereby said finger may be supported by another finger whilepressure for the abrasive action is being applied against the outside ofsaid area, and said band being of a width less than the length of thefingernail.

4. A device for removing longitudinal ridges from the surfaces offingernails and for giving said surfaces a smooth finish, comprising acontinous narrow annular flexible band of finely perforated paper, theinside surfaces thereof being coated with finely divided abrasivematerial, said device being adapted for encircling the end of a usersfinger, while successive inside abrasive areas thereof are pressedagainst the nail surface and reciprocated transversely of the nail andcircumferentially of the device.

5. A device for removing longitudinal ridges from the surfaces offingernails and for giving said surfaces a smooth finish, comprising anarrow annular flexible paper band, the inside surfaces of which arecoated with finely divided abrasive material, and a layer of flexiblesuede surfaced paper secured to the outer surface of said band forfrictionally engaging the users thumb or fingers, the device beingadapted for encircling the end of a users finger, While successiveinside abrasive areas thereof are pressed against the nail surface andreciprocated transversely of the nail and circumferentially of thedevice, by contact with the thumb or fingers of the users other hand.

6. A device for forming a smoothly abraded surface on fingernails,comprising a narrow annular flexible continuous paper band, the insideand outside surfaces having fixed thereon coatings of finely dividedabrasive material, the device being constructed and adapted forencircling the end of a users finger, while successive inside abrasiveareas thereof are pressed against the nail surface and reciprocatedtransversely of the nail and while the outer abrasive areas offerfrictional engagement for the thumb or fingers of the users other hand,the band also being constructed and adapted for turning inside out forinterchangeable use of the inner and outer abrasive areas.

7. The method of removing longitudinal ridges from the surfaces offingernails, which comprises encircling the end of the users finger witha continuous annular flexible band having a fine abrasive fixed on itsinside surface and a frictional outer surface, and pressing successiveareas of the band against the nail surface while reciprocatingtransversely of the nail and circumferentially of the device, by contactwith the thumb or finger of the users other hand.

FRANZ NEUSCHAEFER.

